COLOGNE (GERMANY) - Iconic German camera brand Leica, Japanese mirrorless camera maker Panasonic and lens maker Sigma announced a strategic alliance of Leica's full-frame mirrorless L-mount system, a day before the start of Photokina 2018 - the world’s largest camera trade show.

This is at a time when full-frame mirrorless camera market seems to hot up with veteran camera makers Canon and Nikon both announcing new full-frame mirrorless camera systems last month.

The new alliance will allow both Panasonic and Sigma to create camera and lenses for the L-mount system. Currently, Leica’s full-frame SL and its APS-C CL and TL series use the L-mount system.

Almost immediately thereafter, Panasonic announced its S1 and S1R full-frame mirrorless cameras in L-mount. In addition, Panasonic unveiled a 50mm f/1.4, 24-105mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f/2.8 L-mount lenses. These cameras and lenses are slated for release sometime next year.

Panasonic previously only make mirrorless cameras with the much-smaller Four-Thirds or Micro Four-Thirds image sensors.

In a separate media event, Sigma’s chief executive officer Kazuto Yamaki revealed that there will be a new Sigma L-mount mirrorless camera using the company’s own Foveon full-frame image sensor - slated to be released sometime next year. Mr Yamaki also said Sigma’s native L-mount lenses will be available from next year onwards.

The Straits Times

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